As your baby’s due date nears you will want to start preparing for the birth, including completing your birth plan if you want to prepare one, and packing your bag ready to take with you to hospital.

• Induction of Labour
• My birth choices - birth plan - example only
• What you need to know about a caesarean birth
• The role of a support person
• Group B Streptococcus in pregnancy-GBS
• Premature Births - parent information on baby outcomes
• When your waters break before 37 weeks-Preterm PROM
• When your waters break after 37 weeks-Term Prom
• Private cord blood banking
• Monitoring the baby's heart rate with cardiotocography (CTG)
• What to bring to hospital when you are having a baby
• Natural ways to bring on labour

These fact sheets help you learn what to expect during labour, as well as exploring options for managing pain during labour. Knowledge and understanding is reassuring.

• Induction of Labour
• How will I know I'm in labour?
• Managing your labour

Being prepared for the birth of your baby and having the opportunity to consider all your options will make you feel more powerful and in control.

• Giving birth - what I need to know
• Active birth
• Water birth
• The birth of your placenta - third stage management
• Skin to skin

Sometimes you will need help with the birth your baby. The fact sheets here inform you about assisted vaginal delivery and caesarean section.

• Assisted birth
  • For more information, see our brochure on management of third/fourth degree tears.
• Having a baby by Caesarean Section
• Your Caesarean at Westmead Hospital
• Next birth after caesarean section (NBAC)

Now that your baby has arrived, find out what to expect by reading more here:

• Newborn Baby Care
• New Mums
• After the birth of your baby